INKubator Play Reading Series

INKubator Play Reading Series is an exclusive, hands-on play and artist development program.

PLAYWRIGHTS

The INKubator experience offers committed writers an opportunity to develop and hone their plays in an artistically rich, focused collaborative environment that includes both a public reading and the active mentorship of Skylight’s creative team.

AUDIENCE

Audience experience is key to the development of a new play providing clues for next steps. To maximize attendance, we strongly encourage you to reach out to your community. Your post-reading conversation with the audience is an opportunity to clarify and further refine your work; we urge you to prepare specific, targeted questions for them rather than soliciting general (unproductive) feedback.

COACHING

INKubator participants learn that giving smart “notes” – and learning how to receive them – is essential to the development process. Skylight’s Artistic Team takes seriously the demanding and detailed work of creating great theatre. We want your play to be the best it can be. To that end, we’ll give you constructive notes following your reading.

READING

Scheduled on a mutually agreed upon date, they occur on the current production's set when held on Skylight’s stage.

Writers may have a cast and director already attached to the reading, or Skylight will help provide talent.

Limited hours are provided for on-site rehearsal; minimal staging is a must.

No Lighting cues. Sound cues must be kept to a minimum.

Music stands, a piano and chairs are provided.

The Writer is responsible for assembling an audience. The writer, director and cast should promote the reading for maximum attendance.

Tickets for the reading support the INKubator series.

CONVERSATION & CREATIVE NOTES

Playwright and audience engage in a brief, moderated, conversation immediately after the reading. To maximize the experience, the playwright (in advance) will have created specific, targeted questions to ask the audience.

At the conclusion of the audience talkback, the playwright will meet with the Skylight Artistic Team for a constructive post-mortem analysis of what worked and what didn’t.

Notes are an essential part of the development process. If you cannot take a constructive note, do not apply.

SUBMISSION RELEASE AGREEMENT

To be considered for the INKubator Play Reading Series, the playwright must sign a release granting Skylight Theatre Company first right of refusal to produce the play as a World Premiere production at a later date. Skylight will not consider any new work without this right.

HOW TO SUBMIT*

Skylight develops and produces new works. The Play Reading Series is your entry point into the INKubator Artistic Development Program. To be considered for a main stage production, your play must go through this blind submission process.

Timeline

Play submissions are accepted on the 1st day of each month, February – November*

We know the work that goes into crafting a new play, and we take the time to look at every submission. It will take a minimum of 90 days before we're able to give you an answer.

What kind of play can you submit?

We accept only new, full-length works and are particularly interested in works that are inclusive, pertinent to contemporary culture and mores, and help expand American theatre. We've also been known to be a little partial to local writers.

* Deadlines and requirements are subject to change without notice, so please check the website for the most up-to-date information. Submissions sent off-cycle are not considered or held, and must be resubmitted.

Instructions

Important: We do not accept hardcopy submissions. Submissions without the executed Agreement are not considered. The receipt email is not an indicator that requirements have been met for consideration.

Required materials:

The Submission Release Agreement – completed and signed.

The complete script in PDF; your name should not appear anywhere in the document as Skylight participates in a ‘blind’ review process.

Musicals: Also include a recording of no more than two (2) musical numbers from the play.

Narrative biography of the playwright, including the city and state where you live (maximum 100 words).

Synopsis of the play (maximum 100 words)

Statement of Interest: Describe where you are in the development of your play and what you hope to get out of a Skylight INKubator Reading (maximum 250 words)

Skylight's INKubator Artistic Development Program is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission